Apple is asking the Trump administration for permission to purchase memory chips from CXMT, a Chinese chipmaker recently added to the Pentagon's blacklist of companies allegedly linked to the Chinese military. The company approached the Commerce Department about a month ago, seeking clearance to source components from the blacklisted supplier despite not being explicitly prohibited from doing so.

Memory shortages have forced Apple to raise prices across its product lineup, with the 1TB M5 MacBook Pro jumping $300, entry-level MacBook Neo adding $100, and all iPad Pros increasing by $200. Currently, Apple relies on Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix for memory chips, but supply constraints have created pressure to find alternative sources.

Congressional opposition appears likely, with Rep. John Moolenaar calling any partnership with a Chinese military company a grave mistake. The Defense Department cannot contract with blacklisted firms or use their products through third parties, creating potential complications for Apple's supply chain strategy.

This move reveals Apple's struggle to secure adequate chip supplies amid global shortages, even as it risks political backlash by courting a supplier deemed strategically problematic by US defense officials.